Big Narstie has spoken out over the lack of non-white nominees at tonight’s Brit Awards.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, the grime veteran said the music industry needs to recognise British talent.

“For our country to do good we need to embrace our country,” he said. “Three years ago when I was sending my stuff in, [radio stations] used to say that my stuff was too urban. But what else am I supposed to make?

“I’m a regular at the pound shop, what type of stuff do you want me to impress you with?”

Grime journalist Hattie Collins also criticised the awards’ lack of diversity, saying black British artists had been “bizarrely overlooked” by the voting academy. Collins pointed to crossover success stories Lady Leshurr and Stormzy as glaring omissions from the nominations.

All of the Brit Awards nominees for British Male Solo Artist, British Female Solo Artist, British Producer and British Group are white, with the exception of One Direction’s Zayn Malik.

A petition has also been launched asking the Brit Awards to reveal the diversity figures of its voting academy.